Eagles Dealt First ECHL Shutout by Aces
December 30, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The defending ECHL champion Alaska Aces shutout the Colorado Eagles, 4-0, as Adam Courchaine stopped just 19 shots in the victory. It marked the Eagles first shutout in the ECHL, and their first since March 5. The 19 shots represented a season low for Colorado, after they registered just 20 in Wednesday night's Alaskan affair.
The Eagles had a strong early effort in the first five minutes of the opening frame before the Aces grabbed control of the period's play. The shots on goal reflected such, as Alaska out-shot Colorado 16-4. But Andrew Penner was stellar, stopping all 16, and Colorado's penalty-killers went 2-for-2 in helping the visitors weather the storm and take a 0-0 tie into the first break.
Penner continued his phenomenal play in the second period, with the only blemish coming when Bryan Miller registered the game's opening tally with a power-play goal from the point at 7:26. Colorado, however, controlled much of the action in the second half of the stanza, enabling them to finish the period tied with Alaska at 10 shots apiece.
Garry Nunn made it 2-0 at 2:31 of the third period when he picked up a turnover at the offensive blue line and used Luka Vidmar as a screen in the left circle as he tucked a shot inside the far post. The game got away from Colorado after that as they spent nearly the entire second half of the final frame killing Alaska power plays -- many of them the 5-on-3 variety.
Steve Ward found Dan Kissel with a diagonal pass into the right circle at 13:22 to make it 3-0. And with under three minutes left in the game, Nick Mazzolini picked up a loose puck in the low slot and beat Penner to account for the final score.
The two teams will meet again Saturday night.
ECHL Stories from December 30, 2011
- Eagles Dealt First ECHL Shutout by Aces - Colorado Eagles
- Gutsy Grizzlies Grind out 6-5 Win Over Bakersfield - Utah Grizzlies
- Faubert Scores First OT Goal in Express History - Chicago Express
- Condors Battle Back, But Fall in Utah, 6-5 - Bakersfield Condors
- Winning Streak Ends for Steelheads - Idaho Steelheads
- Kalamazoo Loses to Chicago 4-3 in Overtime - Kalamazoo Wings
- Wranglers Grill Steelheads for 4-3 Comeback Win - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Royals' Comeback Effort Shot Down by Trenton, 4-3 - Reading Royals
- Bushee Post Two Points in Elmira - Wheeling Nailers
- Jackals Storm Back to Defeat Nailers - Elmira Jackals
- Glads Remain in First Despite 3-1 Loss to Everblades - Atlanta Gladiators
- Cyclones Extend Winning Streak to Five, Hooking Walleye 3-0 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Eagles Sign Moises Gutierrez; Forward Will be in Lineup Tonight - Colorado Eagles
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Ontario Reign - Stockton Thunder
- Reign Add to Blue Line - Ontario Reign
- ECHL Transactions - December 30 - ECHL
- Defensemen Ryan Button and Marc Cantin Assigned to Reading - Reading Royals
- Jackals Sign Veteran Miller - Elmira Jackals
- Nailers Game Preview: Wheeling Vs. Elmira - Wheeling Nailers
- Game Preview: Express Vs. Kalamazoo Tonight - Chicago Express
- Jackals Game Preview: Elmira Vs. Wheeling - Elmira Jackals
- Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati at Toledo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Bears Send Lacroix and Flemming to Stingrays - South Carolina Stingrays
- One Dollar Beers and One Dollar Hot Dogs Tonight - Chicago Express
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- ECHL Today - December 30 - ECHL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
